Pool Barriers (Fences)

The following is a brief summary of New York State barrier requirements for outdoor residential swimming pools:

The barrier must completely surround the swimming pool and must obstruct access to the swimming pool.

The barrier must be at least 4 feet (48 inches) high.

In the case of an above-ground pool, the barrier may be at ground level or mounted on top of the pool structure; however, if the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the space between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier cannot exceed 4 inches.

A building wall can form part of the required barrier; however, where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, at least one of the following requirements must be satisfied:

The pool must be equipped with a powered safety cover;

All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall must be equipped with an alarm;

Other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices, which are approved by the governing body;

In the case of an above-ground pool, the pool structure itself can serve as a part of the required barrier, provided that the pool structure is sufficiently rigid to obstruct access to the pool; however, where an above-ground pool structure is used as a barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then:

The ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access, or the ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier;

All doors with direct access to the pool through that wall must be equipped with an alarm;

When the ladder or steps are secured, locked or removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere;

Barriers shall be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.

Specific Barrier requirements can be found in the DOS document titled Current Requirements for Swimming Pools contained in the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (The “Uniform Code“).

Barrier requirements for One-and Two-Family Dwelling Swimming Pools can be found in Appendix G, Residential Code of New York State.

Barrier requirements for Residential Swimming Pools can be found in Chapter 31, Section 3109, Building Code of New York State.

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